WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                          Ch. 131

Article - Labor and Employment

Section 8-903

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1991 Volume and 1992 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Labor and Employment

8-903.

(a)     (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, to be eligible for benefits
an individual shall be:

(i) able to work;

(ii) available for work; and

(iii) actively seeking work.

(2) In determining whether an individual actively is seeking work, the
Secretary shall consider:

(i) whether the individual has made an effort that is reasonable and
that would be expected of an unemployed individual who honestly is looking for work;
and

(ii) the extent of the effort in relation to the labor market conditions in
the area in which the individual is seeking work.

(b)     The Secretary may not use [blindness or another severe] THE disability OF A
QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY as a factor in finding that an individual is
not able to work under subsection (a)(1)(i) of this section [if the individual was an
employee of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland immediately before becoming
unemployed].

(c)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or § 8-904 or § 8-907(a) or
(b) of this subtitle, an individual who otherwise is eligible to receive benefits and who is
in training with the approval of the Secretary may not be denied benefits:

(1)     for failure to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(l)(i) and (iii) of
this section to be available for work and actively seeking work; or

(2)     for failure to apply for or refusal to accept suitable work under § 8-1005
of this title.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1993.

Approved April 26, 1993.

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